I have started a few games and always get stuck when it asks me to NAME my creature - HOW do I know what it will look like when I am done???

So I was curious - do YOU have an idea of what your critter will look like when you start a game OR do you use Better Parts as you find them and create a different looking creature based on the parts you find??

In Cell phase my creatures look pretty much the same. In Creature stage I keep changing the look based on the parts I find and can afford. This changes the LOOK of the creature and sparks my imagination to evolve this critter into something completely different than what I thought I was going to do.....

Back to naming = can you change the name? If I start out naming it Bunny and then go carnivore and never get the "bunny" mouth (which is herb) then the Bunny name is going to be really goofy if it looks like a dinasour!

I have NOT added anyone to my buddy list - I don't think I fully understand what it is?

In other games (MMO'S mostly) a buddy list (or friends list) allows you to see when they are online or to chat with them more easily.

IF I understand THIS buddy list = adding a name/creator to buddy ADDS this creators creatures to MY game? So far I have had mostly Maxis with tiny bit of mine and random creators creatures. Do I understand this right?

ALSO = can you change the landscape in Creature Stage? One of my games was a lot of really tall hills that my creatures couldn't climb - flat would be better....

I like the creature stage. I like searching for DNA and exploring the land. I like playing with the critter itself - not a tribe or spaceship etc. I like changing the creature's looks with the new items I collect. I like that you can make this stage last as long as you like and still explore and gather.

I would have liked the tribal stage to have more tribes to interact with and wish there was a way to add more.

I have tried and tried and looked and looked and can't seem to find how to:

Meld the hip joints into the body!

I can move legs (arms) up/down and side to side - but can't figure out how to push the joints closer together.

My critters all seem to end up with bulging "bottoms"

I also wondered how you "collect"? I have seen reference to collections (is it in creature stage?) I can pick-up sticks and stones and throw them or set them down by the nest - but have found nothing that would be a collection. OR is it the Better-Parts you collect for DNA?

There are parts of the game I feel I am missing. The basics A good tutorial would be awesome! I do have the Prima Guide and it is mostly about Creating and NOT gameplay.

Thanks in advance for any information or links that may help me "figure it all out".....